System and method for controlling distribution of coupons

Abstract

A system for dispensing and redeeming the electronic discount coupons. The system includes a personal computer (PC) having hardware and software for receiving an electronic coupon from the system of computer networks, translating the received coupon into a binary format, and sending the binary-formatted coupon to a card-writing device. The card-writing device writes the coupon data onto a portable customer card ("smart card") approximately the size of a credit card. Subsequently, the customer goes to the store with the card. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, the customer is credited with the value of a coupon when UPC data from a bar code reader corresponds to a coupon stored on the card.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising: a plurality of portable cards;   a first computer network including a first plurality of computers, each having a respective first network address, the plurality of first computers including a first computer having means for sending a first signal including a first network address, an inter-network address corresponding to a computer on another network, and a signal corresponding to a product;   a second computer network including a second plurality of computers, each having a respective second network address;   means, responsive to the inter-network address from the first signal, for sending a second signal including a second network address and the signal corresponding to the product; and   means, responsive to the signal corresponding to the product from the second signal, for sending a card signal, to a portable card in the plurality of cards; and   means, spatially removed from the previous means, for reading the card signal from the portable card.   
     
     
       2. In a system including a computer network, a plurality of customers, and a computer that sends a coupon signal in a first signal on the computer network, the first signal including a respective destination signal corresponding to a customer in the plurality of customers, a coupon processing system comprising: a receiver that receives the coupon signal sent in the first signal;   a determiner that determines whether a coupon, corresponding to the coupon signal, has been previously processed; and   a transmitter that conditionally transmits the coupon, if the coupon has not been previously processed.   
     
     
       3. The coupon processing system of claim 2 wherein the respective destination signal includes an inter-network address. 
     
     
       4. The coupon processing system of claim 2 wherein the respective destination signal includes an electronic mail address. 
     
     
       5. The coupon processing system of claim 2 wherein the transmitter includes a card interface that transmits the coupon to a card in a plurality of portable cards.   
     
     
       6. The coupon processing system of claim 5 further including a processor, spatially removed from the transmitter, that receives a transmitted coupon from the card.   
     
     
       7. The coupon processing system of claim 2 further including a second receiver that receives a purchase signal corresponding to a product; and   a determiner that determines whether a transmitted coupon corresponds to the purchase signal.   
     
     
       8. The coupon processing system of claim 7 further including an electromagnetic detector for generating the purchase signal.   
     
     
       9. In a system including a computer network, and a plurality of customers, a method comprising the steps, performed for a customer in the plurality of customers, of: sending a first signal on the computer network, the first signal including a respective destination signal corresponding to the customer, and a coupon signal;   receiving the coupon signal;   after the receiving step, determining whether a coupon, corresponding to the coupon signal, has been previously processed; and   conditionally processing the coupon, if the coupon has not been previously processed.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein the sending step includes sending the first signal wherein the respective destination signal includes an inter-network address. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9 wherein the sending step includes sending the first signal wherein the respective destination signal includes an electronic mail address. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 9 further including the steps of receiving a purchase signal corresponding to a product; and   determining whether a coupon, processed by the processing step, corresponds to the purchase signal.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 9 further including the steps of generating a purchase signal with an electromagnetic detector, the purchase signal corresponding to a product;   receiving the purchase signal; and   determining whether a coupon, processed by the processing step, corresponds to the purchase signal.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 9 wherein the sending step includes sending an inter-network address, to cause a routing system to generate a plurality of routing signals, each of the plurality of routing signals corresponding to a respective portion of a signal path between two computers.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 9 wherein the system further includes a plurality of portable cards and the method further includes sending the coupon to a card in the plurality of portable cards;   subsequently, moving the card; and   receiving the coupon from the card.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15 wherein the system further includes a plurality of portable cards and the processing step includes sending the coupon to a card in the plurality of portable cards.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 15 wherein the system further includes a plurality of portable cards and the method further includes the steps, performed after the determining step, of: sending the coupon to a card in the plurality of portable cards;   subsequently, moving the card; and   receiving the coupon from the card.   
     
     
       18. A coupon system for a system including a computer network, and a plurality of customers, the coupon system comprising: means for sending a first signal on the computer network, the first signal including a respective destination signal corresponding to a customer in the plurality of customers, and a coupon signal;   means for receiving the coupon signal;   means for determining whether a coupon, corresponding to the received coupon signal, has been previously processed; and   means for conditionally processing the coupon, if the coupon has not been previously processed.   
     
     
       19. The coupon system of claim 18 wherein the respective destination signal includes an inter-network address. 
     
     
       20. The coupon system of claim 18 wherein the respective destination signal includes an electronic mail address. 
     
     
       21. The coupon system of claim 18 wherein the system further includes a plurality of portable cards and the means for conditionally processing includes a card interface. 
     
     
       22. The coupon system of claim 18 further including a receiver that receives a purchase signal corresponding to a product; and   a determiner that determines whether a coupon, processed by the processing means, corresponds to the purchase signal.   
     
     
       23. The coupon system of claim 18 wherein the destination signal includes sending an inter-network address, to cause a routing system to generate a plurality of routing signals, each of the plurality of routing signals corresponding to a respective portion of a signal path between two computers.   
     
     
       24. In a system including a communication system, a plurality of customers, and a computer that sends a coupon signal in a first signal in the communication system, a coupon system comprising: a receiver that receives the coupon signal sent in the first signal;   a determiner that uses a record for previous coupons to determine whether a coupon, corresponding to the coupon signal, has been previously processed; and   a transmitter that conditionally transmits the coupon, if the coupon has not been previously processed.   
     
     
       25. The coupon system of claim 24 wherein the first signal includes a destination signal corresponding to a customer in the plurality of customers. 
     
     
       26. The coupon system of claim 24 wherein the first signal includes an electronic mail address. 
     
     
       27. The coupon system of claim 24 wherein the transmitter includes a card interface that transmits the coupon to a card in a plurality of portable cards.   
     
     
       28. The coupon system of claim 27 further including a processor, spatially removed from the transmitter, that receives a transmitted coupon from the card. 
     
     
       29. The coupon system of claim 24 further including a second receiver that receives a purchase signal corresponding to a product; and   a determiner that determines whether a transmitted coupon corresponds to the purchase signal.   
     
     
       30. The coupon system of claim 29 further including an electromagnetic detector for generating the purchase signal.   
     
     
       31. In a system including a communication system, and a plurality of customers, a method comprising the steps, performed for a customer in the plurality of customers, of: sending a first signal in the communication system, the first signal including a coupon signal;   receiving the coupon signal;   after the receiving step, using a record for previous coupons to determine whether a coupon, corresponding to the coupon signal, has been previously processed; and   conditionally processing the coupon, if the coupon has not been previously processed.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 31 wherein the sending step includes sending a destination signal corresponding to a customer in the plurality of customers. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 31 wherein the sending step includes sending an electronic mail address. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 31 further including the steps of receiving a purchase signal corresponding to a product; and   determining whether a coupon, processed by the processing step, corresponds to the purchase signal.   
     
     
       35. The method of claim 31 further including the steps of generating a purchase signal with an electromagnetic detector, the purchase signal corresponding to a product;   receiving the purchase signal; and   determining whether a coupon, processed by the processing step, corresponds to the purchase signal.   
     
     
       36. The method of claim 31 wherein the sending step includes sending an inter-network address, to cause a routing system to generate a plurality of routing signals, each of the plurality of routing signals corresponding to a respective portion of a signal path between two computers.   
     
     
       37. The method of claim 31 wherein the system further includes a plurality of portable cards and the method further includes sending the coupon to a card in the plurality of portable cards;   subsequently, moving the card; and   receiving the coupon from the card.   
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37 wherein the system further includes a plurality of portable cards and the processing step includes sending the coupon to a card in the plurality of portable cards.   
     
     
       39. The method of claim 37 wherein the system further includes a plurality of portable cards and the method further includes the steps, performed after the determining step, of: sending the coupon to a card in the plurality of portable cards;   subsequently, moving the card; and   receiving the coupon from the card.